Rotating gravity-engine



- (No-Model.) I

v H. L. LIGHTNER.

ROTATING GRAVITY ENGINE.

No. 578,062. 4 Patented Mar. 2, 1897.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY L. LIGHTNER, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

ROTATING G RAVlTY-ENGIN E.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 578,062, dated March 2, 1897.

Application filed July 20, 1896- To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, HENRY L. LIGHTNER, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city 'and county of San Francisco, State of California, have invented an Improvement in Rotating Gravity-Engines; and I hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same.

My invention relates to an improvement in engines.

It consists of the parts and the constructions and combinations'of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the engine. Fig. 2 is an end elevation. Fig. 3 is a sectional detail of one of the slide-valves.

I have illustrated my invention by two cyl-' inders A and B, standing at right angles wit-h each other. These cylinders have a central shaft or trunnions, to which they are secured so as to rotate upon this shaft.

In the present case I have shown the connection made by means of disks or collars C upon the exterior of the cylinders at a point central between their ends, and these disks are bolted together, so as to retain the cylinders in their relative position, while not interrupting thev clear passage from one end to the other of the cylinders.

The shafts D, which extend outwardly from these cylinders and disks, are journaled in suitable supports, so as to allow the cylinders sufficient space to swing freely. The shafts D are here shown as being made hollow, and upon one side they are connected with an inlet-pipe E for the admission of steam or other medium under pressure, while at the other side is an exhaust-passage F, through which the steam is delivered after it has per formed its office. From the hollow inlet trunnion or shaft D pipes G extend to the opposite ends of the two cylinders A and B, and exhaust-pipes H in like manner lead to the hollow discharge-shaft D upon the opposite side.

Within the cylinders are fitted heavy weights I, which are adapted to slide smoothly from one end to the other of the cylinders as the latter are revolved. The cylinders rotate within a circle or segment J, so disposed that at approximately the lowest point which the cylinders pass this segment is provided with Serial No. 599,870. No model.)

a flattened or differently-curved portion L,- which acts upon the valve-stem K,so as to open an inlet-valve and allow the steam to pass into the cylinder. This immediately forces the heavy weight or plunger I to the opposite and upper end of the cylinder. The arrangement of the valve-gear is such that this movement of the weight takes place just after the cylinder has passed the vertical central line, and the weight, when thrown to the upper end, will thus be at a point beyond the central line upon the opposite side, so that it acts by gravitation to rotate the cylinder and bring itself down again to the lowestposition. The weight in the other cylinder is actuated in a like manner, and both weights are thus constantly thrown to the upper end of the cylinder as fast as they have arrived at the lowest point by gravitation.

In order to allow the weights to move freely and also to discharge the steam or medium by the pressure of which they are forced to the upper end of the cylinder, I have shown a The cylinders may be made of any desired length and diameter to provide for weights of sufficient size, so that they will act by gravi tation to continue the rotation of the apparatus, each weight being forced to the end cylinder which is uppermost as soon as the latter arrives in position to make the weight effective so as to act by gravitation.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. An engineconsisting of cylinders standing radially with relation to a journal-shaft to which they are centrally connected so as to revolve therewith, weights slidable from end to end of said cylinders, pipes connecting the opposite ends of the cylinders with the hollow shafts or trunnions about which they are revoluble, and a supply-pipe connected with one end of the shaft, valves whereby steam is admitted under pressure into the cylinders, an actuating device whereby the valves are opened when the ends of the cylinders successively pass the lowest pointin their revolution, whereby the weights are forced to the opposite and upper ends of the cylinders, exhaust-pipes connecting the ends of the cylinders with the shaft or trunnion opposite to the inlet-pipe for the escape of steam, and mechanism for opening the exhaustvalves when they reach the upper part of their revolution, whereby the upper ends of the cylinders are opened to allow the escape of the steam and free movement of the weights in that direction.

2. An engine consisting of cylinders standing radially with relation to a journal-shaft to which they are centrally connected so as to revolve therewith, weights, forming pistons, slidable from end to end of said cylinders, pipes or passages connecting the opposite ends of the cylinders with the hollow shafts or trunnions about which they are revoluble, a supply-pipe and an exhaust-pipe, and a circle or segment within which the cylinders rotate, having a flattened or diiferently-curved portion at two opposite sides against which the valve-stems impinge whereby steam is admitted to and exhausted from the cylinders.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

HENRY L. LIGHTNER.

Witnesses:

S. H. NOURSE, GEO. H. STRONG. 

